Chartism

Chartism was a radical working-class movement for political reform that existed in the United Kingdom from 1838 to 1857. The movement grew out of the agitation for reform that developed in the aftermath of the Reform Bill of 1832, and the Chartists drafted the "People's Charter", which contained six demands: The Chartists won support among many intellectual reformers and urban workers, and they presented a petition to the British Parliament in 1839, setting forth their demands. However, the British middle class and Parliament oposed the petition, refusing to share political power with the masses. Parliament also ignored Chartist petitions in 1842 and 1848, but Chartist agitation continued in the form of demonstrations and riots. However, all of the demands of theh Chartists, bar the annual elections for the House of Commons, were enacted by Parliament.
 * 1) Universal manhood suffrage.
 * 2) The secret ballot in place of voting in public meetings.
 * 3) The abolition of property requirements for members of the House of Commons
 * 4) The payment of salaries to members of the House of Commons.
 * 5) The creation of equal electoral districts. (Members of the House of Commons should represent approximately the same number of people.)
 * 6) Annual elections for the House of Commons.